Madrid girls race to title

Tuesday

Gradually and persistently, the Madrid girls are following their own path.

While sharing the spotlight with a boys’ cross-country team that ranks among the Class 1-A elite, the lady Tigers are making impressive gains.

Their latest achievement was a victory in last week’s Madrid Invitational.

“We have so many girls who are so strong,” senior Jadyn Miller said. “And I think we’re all strong in different aspects, and they kind of blend together.”

Miller led the way last Thursday with a second-place showing individually, crossing the finish line in 22 minutes, 46 seconds.

Paige Ridenour was third in 23:26, while Piper Steburg was fifth in 24:17, helping the Tigers finished with 23 points.

Perry was second in the standings with 43 points. Ogden was third with 82, led by Amber Braniff’s six-place effort in 24:36.

Madrid now has two top-five finishes in two meets.

“The girls are definitely learning how to run,” coach Kelley Grothus said. “Many of them are new this year, and even if they’ve run track before, it takes a while to figure out how to pace for a 5K, instead of an 800 (meters).

“It’s a learning process, but they’re learning together. They run as a solid group in practice, whether on a long run or a workout.”

Miller is one of those who is transitioning to cross country.

A Drake Relays and State Track qualifier, she is more accustomed to running 400s. And while sprinting full-throttle around an oval can test a runner’s pain threshold, covering 5,000 meters over an inconsistent terrain requires a psychological adjustment.

“Physically, I would say it’s a little bit easier,” Miller said of running longer distances. “I’d say it’s definitely a mental sport. You hit your first mile… and I’m just toast.

“It’s definitely a transition as far as mental strength goes.”

Miller debuted a week earlier with an eighth-place finish at the Gilbert Invitational, in23:11.5

She’s quickly moving from novice to pacesetter.

“So, it was obviously a little bit of a surprise,” Miller said of her two top-ten finishes. “It was a little bit intimidating at first.

“I think my coaches did a really good job of knowing I’m a sprinter, but I can also be a long-distance runner.”